I'm not sure exactly what I was trying to say. At the end of the day, of
course, we only believe what we do about God because God has revealed them
to us: "No one can come to me unless the Father draw him," and see the
passage (I think it's in 2 Cor. somewhere) about the veil that hides
the truth from the Jewish people whenever the Law is read, which is taken
away when they come to know Christ. And Job (I think) was asked, "Canst
thou by searching find out God?" (apologies for the old english, that's the
version that stuck in my mind for this verse!
Having said that, our faith should be a _reasonable_ faith, not contradicting
the findings of science. The difficulties here are twofold, of course-
although God's word is infallible, man's interpretations of it are not;
and in science it is sometimes hard to distinguish between facts and
someone's interpretations of those facts.
I did not intend to misrepresent you in any way; and I hope I have
managed to clarify my own viewpoint a bit.
/Gary
> From evolution-owner-etlgycs=etlxdmx.ericsson.se@udomo2.calvin.edu Thu Feb 12 16:43:07 1998
> Delivered-To: evolution@udomo2.calvin.edu
> Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 08:35:13 -0800 (PST)
> From: E G M <e_g_m@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: Debate
> To: evo <evolution@calvin.edu>
> Mime-Version: 1.0
>
>
> Hi Eduardo,
> I must apologise for being brash, and jumping in too quickly.
> There are, of course, things which can be verified scientifically, and
> indeed should be - eg when God heals someone in response to prayer, this
> should be verified medically for the person's own good - and we see this
> also in the Scripture. For instance, when Peter and John commanded the
> lame man at Gate Beautiful to walk, their enemies could not refute it,
> because there was the man walking and leaping!
>
> I'm not sure exactly what I was trying to say. At the end of the day, of
> course, we only believe what we do about God because God has revealed them
> to us: "No one can come to me unless the Father draw him," and see the
> passage (I think it's in 2 Cor. somewhere) about the veil that hides
> the truth from the Jewish people whenever the Law is read, which is taken
> away when they come to know Christ. And Job (I think) was asked, "Canst
> thou by searching find out God?" (apologies for the old english, that's the
> version that stuck in my mind for this verse!
>
> Having said that, our faith should be a _reasonable_ faith, not contradicting
> the findings of science. The difficulties here are twofold, of course-
> although God's word is infallible, man's interpretations of it are not;
> and in science it is sometimes hard to distinguish between facts and
> someone's interpretations of those facts.
>
> I did not intend to misrepresent you in any way; and I hope I have
> managed to clarify my own viewpoint a bit.
>
> /Gary
>
> Dear Gary, this is a rather unfair twist of things. I agree with all
> that you have stated below. My example was based on your previous
> statements (which I quoted explicitly). The fact remains that Jesus
> ãinvitedä empirical verification of a miraculous act, his
> resurrection, such is the Grace of God. We also believe that He
> resurrected because of the numerous eyewitnesses. Therefore, I see no
> problem with science stepping out of its purely naturalistic
> methaphysical footing.
>
> EGM
> ___________________
>
> Yes, up to a point. But Eduardo, don't forget that Jesus went on to
> say, "Because you have seen, you have believed. Blessed are they who
> have not seen, yet have believed. He didn't commend Thomas for taking
> the position he did.
>
> Compare Hebrews 11:1-3: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for,
> and CERTAIN OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE. This is what the ancients were
> commended for. By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at
> God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is
> visible.
>
> It will always be possible to offer alternative explanations; for if
> we could "prove" God, in a scientific sense, then "believing" in him
> would cease to be an act of faith, and "without faith, it is
> impossible to please God..."
> Gary
>
>
>
> ==
>
> EGM
> "in ipso enim vivimus et movemur et sumus sicut"
>
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